Fastener



Ag. 22, 1944. l 1. Rossl ETAL FASTENER Filed April 19, 1941 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,Aug.2z, 1944. mossi HAL l 2,356,619

FASTENER' n Filed April 19. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 12 Las 9 9 RWM J4"`J4 BY Ming Y ATTORNEY temporarily of fastener embodying the Patented Aug. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENToFFlca A FAs'rENEn f Irving Rossi, West Orange, N. J., and Peter F. "r Rossmann. Buffalo, N. Y.; said Rossmann assignor to said Rossi ,Application Aprilia, 1941, serial No. 389,410

` (ci. as s) s claims.

The present invention relates to devices for clamping or assembling perforated plates. sheets or other pieces preparatory to a riveting or other operation requiring a temporary assembly of the elements.

In the copending U. S.l patent application, Serial No. 384,461, filed on March 21, 1941, by Peter F. Rossmann, co-applicant in this application, there is described a device of this character also known as a Dskin fastener comprising substantially a cup-shaped housing or other support provided with an opening in the bottom wall thereof through which are passed a pair of spaced resilient legs or prongs extending from a member arranged in spring restrained relatively `movable relation to said housing, The lower ends of said prongs are formed withltransverse outward projections and urged towards each other to allow insertion into and removal from the aligned holes of two or more superposed work pieces to be assembled. A spreader having one portion resting against the inner bottom surface of said cup and a spreader portion at right angle thereto proiecting through said opening is disposed between said prongs to normally maintain the same in spread position through the action of said spring and to cause said projections to engage the underside of said cup adjacent to said opening. By compressing said spring by means of a suitable tool applied to said cup and member, respectively, the prongs will slide over said spreader portion thus causing the lower projections thereof to approach each other to allow of insertion of the fastener into or removal from the work to be clamped or assembled.

'Ihe present invention relates to an improved construction of a fastener of the above general character as described in said copending application.

suited especially, though not limitatively, for use with thin sheets and smaller sizes of the rivetingholes as encountered in the manufacture of airplane parts or the riveting or other assembly of thin and light metal parts.

This and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of one f orm principles of the 1nvention,

Figure 2 is a top view of the fastener shown in Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are sections taken on lines 3-3 and 4 4 respectively, of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fastener of modified constructfon, l

Figure 6 is a top view of the fastener shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section ure 5.

Figure 8 shows a further modification of a fastener according to the invention,

Figure-9 is a top view of the fastener shown in Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a cross-section taken on line Ill-I0 of Figure 8,

Figure 11 shows still a further embodiment of a fastener in vertical cross-section embodying the principles of the invention,

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a component part of the fastener shown in Figure 11, and

taken on line 'I-1 of Fig- Figure 13 is a top view of the fastener shown Y in Figure 11,

Figure 14 is a section taken on line I4-I4 of Figure 11.

Like reference numerals identify like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, the fastener shown comprises substantially a cupshaped member or body I0 having afiiange I 0' at its open endand an opening I8 provided in the bottom Wall thereof. Item `I I is a resilient member or retainer produced by bending a rod or bar in U-fashion to provide two adjacent circular loops at one end (see Figure 2) and a pair of laterally displaced legs or prongs having upper parallel portions followed by inwardly inclined portions I2 vand I3 and vterminating in lower parallel portions I4 and I5, respectively, at closer spacing from each other than the upper parallel portions as seen from the drawings. Thelower ends of portions I 4 and I5 are formed with out.- ward transverse projections or shoulders I6v and I1, respectively, and the member is so formed and conditioned .that the lower portions I4 and I5 are urged away from each other or tend to spread in an outward direction in such a manner that the projections I6 and I1 will engage the underside of cup I 0 adjacent to the openingl8 (nonuse position), or the underside of the two or more aligned perforated pieces such as plates 30 and 3| to be clamped (use or operative position), by the action of further means to urge projections L6 and II in a direction towards the cup I0. The latter comprises a coil spring 22 lower of encircling the member II and having one end engaging a washer 23 resting uponthe inner bottom face of cup I and having its other end engaging the underside of an inverted dishshaped member or cap 20. -The latter is provided with a suitable opening adapted to receive the loop portion of member II and is locked against the latter by means of a pin 2| passed through the loops of member and resting in a depression in the upper face of member 2li. The washer 23 is prevented from rotation by the provision of projecting keys 24 engaging grooves in the inner wall of cup I0. The washer is further provided with suitable openings 25 and 26 through which are passed the legs or prongs I2 and I3,

y respectively.

l that it can be easily assembled or taken apart to exchange defective parts without requiring bending or other operations producing a permanent deformation during the assembly. In use, part 20 is pressed towards flange I0' by the aid of a suitable tool such as a special plier thereby compressing spring 22 and causing inclined surfaces I2 and I3 to glide past and cam with the wall of opening I8. As a result the lower portions I4 and I5 of the member II will be forced towards each other, thereby causing shoulders I6 and I1 to clear the opening I8 and allowing insertion of the fastener into the aligned holes of the plates to be assembled. Release of the 'plier will result in an upward movement of member Il and'spreading of the legs I4 and I5 and a firm clamping of the plates 30 and 3| as shown in the drawings. Removal of the fastener may be effected in the same manner as is readily understood.

Referring to Figures to '7, the resilient member is comprised of two separate elements or legs 32 and 33, the upper parallel portions of which engage the opposite inner faces of a tubular member 34 having an upper flange 35. The upper ends of the legs 32 and 33 are bent outwardly at a right angle and engage corresponding openings in the side wall of member 34 directly underneath flange 35. A spreader or separator 36 is forced in between the legs 32 and 33. The latter are first bent outwardly and then inwardly to provide a pair of gliding surfaces and to cause the lower transverse projections or shoulders 32 and 33 to approach and recede from each other in substantially the same manner and for the same 'purpose as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. While in the construction according to Figures 1 to 4 the legs of member are preferably of circular cross-section, the` cross-section of the legs 32 and 33 in the construction of Figures 5 to 7 is advantageously of segmental form as shown more clearly in Figure 7. The washer 23 may be provided with a spreader 23' at right angle thereto projecting through the opening I8 and the aligned holes in the sheets 30 and 3| to serve as a guide for the legs or prongs 32 and 33 and to centralize and straighten up the fastener. The embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 10 is similar to that of Figures 5 to 7, with the exception that the resilient member is formed of a single element bentin U-fashion with a single loop, similar to the construction of Figures 1 to 4, and flattened or otherwise deformed after insertion into member 34 so as to become permanently locked against the flange 35i of the latter. Other details are similar to those of Figures 1 to 5.

Referring to Figures 11 to 14, there is shown a further construction of a fastener embodyingl the in the manner proposed by the invention. There are provided for this purpose a pair of resilient members 40 and 40' shaped or bent from a blank of steel in the manner shown in Figure 12 for one of the members. The upper portion 4| is bent to a semi-cylinder and the lower portion provided with a transverse projection or shoulder 43 is bent at right angle to the original surface of the blank to provide a pair of flat elements in shearing engagement with each other if the upper portions held against each other to form a complete cylinder as shown in Figure l1. To this end there is provided a cup 46 fitting over the upper portions of the members 4|)` and 40' and secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by instruck portions 41 and 41' engaging holes 45 and 45' through the members. The device may be applied and removed in the same manner as described hereinbefore by pushing cup 46 towards cup III by means of a plier or the like, thus causing the inclined surfaces 44 of members 40 and 40' to engage or cam with the wall of hole I8 and force the lower legs 42 and 42 to approach each other in scissors fashion, thereby allowing insertion of the fastener into and removal from the work to be clamped in substantially the same manner as described with reference to the preceding embodiments of the invention.

It will be evident from the foregoingthat the invention is not limited to the specific constructional details and arrangement of parts shown and described herein for illustration, but that the principle underlying the invention will be susceptible of variations and modifications coming within the broader scope and spirit thereof as defined in the appended claims. The specification and drawing are accordingly to be regarded lin an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

We claim: A

1. A fastener comprising a cup having an opening provided in the bottom wall thereof, a head movable axially towards and away from said cup, an elongated resilient element bent in U-fashion to provide aplurality of concentric circular loops and a pair of spaced legs urged apart by their own spring tension, said loops being secured to said head and said legs projecting through said opening, shoulders at the lower ends of said legs, a coil spring encircling said legs and engaging the inner bottom surface of said cup and said head, respectively, to cause said shoulders to engage the underside of said cup adjacent to said opening, said legs having intermediate portions forming angles with the axis of said opening to force said legs together by camming with said opening upon moving said head towards said cup.

2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient element is secured to said head by passing said loops through an opening of said member, and a locking pin passed through said' of the members 4I) and v4|I 'are to cam with the edge of said opening upon compression of said spring means to force said retainer outwardly of said housing and thereby to cause said legs to approach each` other and enable their insertion through and removal from the sheet perforations.

4. A fastener for temporarily holding together perforated sheets in superposed relation comprising a thimble-shaped housing having an opening through the bottom thereof substantially conforming to the sheet perforations, a U-shaped retainer having a pair of resilient legs provided with shoulders at the outer ends thereof and biased away from each other, spring means interposed between said housing and said retainer to urge said legs inwardly of said-body and to hold the sheets to be clamped between said shoulders and said housing, said legs having portions adjacentto said opening bent at an angle towards each other and adapted to cam with the edge of said opening upon compression of said spring means to force said retainer outwardly of said housing and thereby to cause said legs to approach each 4other and enable their insertion through and removal from the sheet perforations.

5. A fastener for temporarily holding together perforated sheets in superposed relation comprising a thimble-shaped housing having van opening through the bottom thereof substantially conforming to the said perforations, la, U-shaped retainer slidable through said opening and having a pair of resilient legs provided with shoulders at the outer ends thereofand biased away from each other, a coiled tension spring encircling said retainer having one side bearing against the bottom of said housing and having its opposite side engaging the inner end of said retainer, said legs having intermediate portions bent at an angle towards each other and adapted to cam with the edge of said opening upon compression of said tension, a washer resting against the bottom of said housing and having spaced apertures for passing said legs, a coil spring encircling said retainer, said spring having one side bearing against said washer and having lits opposite side engaging the inner end of said retainer,v said legs having outer portions bent at an angle towards eachother and adapted to cam with the edge of said opening upon compression'of said spring to force said retainer outwardly of said housing and thereby to cause said legs to approach each other and enable their insertion through and-removal from the sheetperforations.

7. A fastener for temporarily holding togetherA perforated sheets in superposed relation comprising a thimble-shaped housing having an opening through the bottom thereof substantially y conforming to the sheet perforations, a retainer slidable through said opening having a pair of spaced resilient legs provided with shoulders at their outer ends and biased away from each other,

a washer resting against the bottom of said housing and having spaced apertures for passing said legs, a coiled tension spring encircling said retainer, said spring having one side bearing against said washer and having its opposite side engaging the inner end of said retainer, said legs having intermediate portions bent at an angle tovwards each other and adapted to cam-with the members .to be assembled, a retainer slidable through said opening having a pair of spaced resilient legs provided with shoulders at their outer ends and urged apart by their own spring tension, spring means interposed between said body and the inner end of said retainer to draw said legs inwardly of said body and to hold the members to be assembled .clamped between said tions in the members shoulders and said base, said legs having outer portions bent at an angle inwardly and adapted to cam with the edge of said openingupon compression of said spring means to force said legs outwardly of said body and thereby to cause said legs to approach each other and enable their insertion through and removal from the perforato be assembled.

IRV'ING ROSSI.

PETER F. RossMANN. 

